Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-17
WHY SHE LOVED A NEGRO BOY.
mrs. Emmons Continues the Story of ii er
Life-incidents Which COnvuscd the
Court Room.
WASHINGTON. Jan. Is

WASHINGTON. Jan. Is.
The investigation into the M .ntal condition
OF Mrs. Emmons was continued today in the
cid circuit court room, which was uncnmfor.
tably crowded, the ladies, as usual Of late,
composing the larger part of the audience
Mrs. Emm1ns resumed her story She
said that When she gave up her bathroom 10
the servants her husband threatened to put
her into lunatic asylum. This frightened
her. When her husband went awav that
morning she sent at once for James Lowndes,
lawyer She told Mr.. Lowndes of the cir
cnmstances relating to her husbands cores
pondence with the Philadelphia woman. and
then placed the papers in his hands. Il told
him. said the witness, THAT if were mad
or dead or put in lunatic asylum that he
would have t. vlndicate me before the world
'and put out those letters to show why
was combined When her husband cane
home she toll him what she had done
lie did not say anything, but pulled his
mustsche vigorously. [Great laughter. I
Subsequently her husband told her he wau,eu
her to use those letters to get divorce She
told him she would do nothing as long as MS
mother lived to give her sorrow. He then
ordered her 10 get a divorce. and she said she
would. He said he would give her the hou Sc
on Vermont avenue, which was already as
much hers as his, aud promised her mum,
Der of other things which were already hers.
''On one OCCASION" continued the witness.
CDR. Sims called upon me, lrin.ing that
man, DR.. kempster-contou him-I-I-
well, | won't say it, but 1t is through hi1
that Mr.. Emmons has g,tteu into this mess
Either that, or Mr.. Emmons is insane hiu-
self"
Inls was too much for the gravity of the
audience, and another laugh broke out.
About the broken Thermometer story, the
witness said she had had il for a long time,
and was very sorry when il was broken. for
she used to put 1t out of the iniow ito see
how cold it was and thus catch Gen. Hazan.
Great laughter greeted this sally. Speaking
of the Christmas child incident. Mrs. En-
mons said the little colored bov Arnold cane
TO where she was sitting and asked when
she was going to light the tree She took the
child up on her lap, and this Kempser b gan
asking her foolish gu stions. She .oii him
about the Christmas tree and the Germ an
fable about the Christ child. He said
How can yon endure to be fond Of a Iittie
nigger" She said: .'rhis child saves M
much. Tnis is my little Christ child;" it
saves me much. Then | commenc ID to bluff
the stupid man He hadn't wit enoagh {,
understand. He did not even ask me what /
meant. He Just took it all in," she said, and
continued: "rhat child did save me much.
and knew it when | said 1t. 1t | wanted
anything he would trot down stair. and tell
his mother. He saved me in labor saved me
in work said it was my Christ child, for
got the Christmas tree upon his account, or
made him sn excuse for having the tree"
Here Mrs. Emn!ons looked straight at Mr.
Garnett and asked, "Do-s the black rub off
from clean negro chid?"
Then she went on: You sail yes bv nol-
ding your head. Does it? saw it does not
| would like to know when people are dead
and have lad off their skins whether it makes
any difference to God whether their skin. are
black or white. That's question:" said
Mrs. Emmons, "that ought to be answered
by Bestonian
The witness said that Mr.. Emmons had
come to her house after the legal sepsra-
ton as she supposed it was He used TO
come to the basement door and she told him
if he came there he must come in the front
door like others, and send a card. He did
not stay all night because she would not let
him. He came there and remained late
When she spoke to him he said at is latr
now and do not want to be seen going out"
She said he could not stay; it would not be a
proper thing. He said he could not go.
said VERY well, then; I'll go to a hotel"
He locked the door and called up the serv-
ants He SAID to them. "Don't let her 60
out" II suppose was insane then; which
the more insane--I, who was in NY own
house, or he, whe pushed his way in there?
took the key from him and unlocked the
door"
Did he go?" asked Mr. Garnett.
Yes, he went" she said with laugh.
Mrs. Emmons then sarcasticaiiy described
her husbands solicitude about her trip to
Bloomingdale, and concluded by declaring
she was rep aaedly drugged with "hiskev, 50
that it was comparatively easy to get her into
Bl0omingdale asylum Her touching and dra-
matte description of her struggle and protests
against confinement made deep impression
upon the audience.